RIO DE JANEIRO (AFP) - Rio de Janeiro celebrated Saturday the 50th anniversary of bossa nova, the unique Brazilian cocktail of jazz and samba that inspired generations of musicians with hits such as "Girl from Ipanema."

The picturesque city organized a free concert on its iconic Ipanema beach with bossa nova pioneers and musicians influenced by the genre, which was born out the melodies strummed by legendary guitarist Joao Gilberto in 1958.

His revolutionary sound reached a worldwide audience in 1963 with the release of "Girl from Ipanema," which was written by Tom Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes and performed by Joao and Astrud Gilberto along with American saxophone player Stan Getz.

Despite rain, organizers said Saturday's show would go on with performers including veterans Roberto Menescal, Carlos Lyra and Oscar Castro Neves as well as modernists such as the group Bossacucanova, which mixes bossa nova with electronica.

"Bossa has its eternal audience and there is also a new one," said show organizer Solange Kafuri.

But the event was marked by some controversy as members of bossa nova's old guard who were left out, such as Pery Ribeiro, demanded the inclusion of younger faces from other genres, including rock band Pato Fu.

(Only the beginning of the song is in Portuguese, for you folk who demand everything on the internet be in english)